The significance of georeferencing medicinal plant records
Transcript of The significance of georeferencing medicinal plant records
The significance of georeferencing
medicinal plant records
Ya’qub Ebrahim South African National Biodiversity Institute
(Encephalartos caffer (http://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-caffer)
Background
• Traditional medicine plays a huge role in SA and about 2000
recorded plant species are used for medicinal purposes
• Approximately a third used in local muthi markets
• 20% unsustainably sourced
• 42% listed as threatened with extinction
• Southern Africa’s medicinal plant species are ever decreasing due
to over exploitation
• With the current rate of harvesting – plant supplies will decline
and many species will become extinct
• The need for conservation
Background Background
Rapanea melanophloeos(http://pza.sanbi.org/rapanea-melanophloeos)
Begonia dregei Otto & A.Dietr. (http://pza.sanbi.org/begonia-dregei)
Ansellia Africana (http://pza.sanbi.org/ansellia-africana)
Approach
3 steps:
1. Manage species datasets and create database
2. Georeference species localities
3. Produce species distribution maps using ArcGIS
Raw data and sorting
Extracting unique values
Database
Geolocate
Google Earth Pro
Cassipourea malosana (Baker) Alston (Pillarwood, common onionwood)(35000m difference).
Georeferencing calculator
Species distribution
South Africa
Threatened and over-harvested
Thank You!